Nikolic outed for 2 years over threat

Melbourne jockey Danny Nikolic has been banned from racing for two years after being found guilty of threatening Racing Victoria's chief steward last month.

Nikolic, 37, was charged after an incident at the Seymour races on September 4 when chief steward Terry Bailey claimed he was threatened by the Caulfield Cup-winning jockey.

It was alleged Nikolic, who has been linked to so far unproven allegations of race fixing and who has had a turbulent relationship with stewards, had said: "We all have families and we know where yours lives."

He denied the allegations and claimed Bailey deliberately fabricated evidence to ruin his career, but the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board accepted Bailey's version of events.

Nikolic was disqualified for two years for misconduct and one year for conduct prejudicial to the image, welfare and interests of racing, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

It effectively means he has been warned off all race tracks around Australia.

He will not be able to ride in races or in any track work, and is not allowed to open a betting account or have anyone bet on his behalf.

In handing down the two-year ban the board said Nikolic's threat was sinister and contemptible.

Nikolic did not comment when leaving the court, but lawyers for Racing Victoria indicated they are anticipating an appeal.

He now has 28 days to lodge an appeal against the penalty with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

During Tuesday's sentencing hearing, lawyers for Racing Victoria said Nikolic had a pattern of "abusive, disrespectful and threatening conduct" towards stewards, particularly Bailey.

They said his penalty needed to reflect the damage he had done to the image of racing and that he had displayed no "remorse or contrition".

The RAD Board was told Nikolic had verbally attacked Bailey four times since February 2010 and that stewards did not want him back riding.

Nikolic's lawyer Sandy Robertson said the jockey had not shown remorse because he did not make threatening comments to Bailey.

Mr Robertson said Nikolic had been under intense scrutiny for some time, akin to "being in the stocks".

He said Nikolic was not a threat to any steward and could have expected a suspension of between 14 and 42 days in a similar case under the British system.

Nikolic was in the twilight of a "magnificent career", said Robertson, who asked the RAD Board to give him a "chance".

The lawyer told the board that the four weeks his client had already spent on the sidelines constituted a very severe punishment.